Diet Questions

[Foreigner]

Been browsing the forums for a while just registerd today though. I have a few questions I want to go for the ripped look I work out about 1 1/2 - 2 hours a day weights cardio etc.. Im not fat just dont have the 6 pack only top 2 abdominal muscles visible. What are some good links for diets and info to make a custom diet for my self as each one has a different approach. I know that fat cant be lost without a diet.

Thanks

[Foreigner]

anyone got anything to say. ?

[nwtogame]

Hey bro no offense but try looking into a bodybuilding site. Someone may give you useful info here but you will get a lot of info on those forums. I could go on and on about diet and training. You have to describe yourself and your diet now to accuratley get help by the way. when you say 2 1/2 hours cardio are you talking first thing in the morning on an empty stomach? Or after you've slopped down some pasta and so fourth during meals. I'm doing the same thing as you and I was stuck for a while I mean I have a six and all are visible but I wanted to take it a step farther and really really get etched so to speak. I was at a stale mate and now I'm trying this calorie spiking so to speak. Its been seeming to work and my muscles have filled back up which is always a great feeling. More info about yourself and your current diet and training and I will do my best to give you my 2 cents if you want that is. One side not 3500 claories = pound so if your adding 3500 calories on top of what your burning your going to gain. In reverse is true also if you diet is in negatvie 3500 calories you going to lose. THAT IS science. FACTUAL. BUT.....there are a crapton load of variables. Like if your not working out and adding calories all your doing is getting fat. Also things like if you eat extra calories (depending on the idividuals metabolism) your body will burn more on average a day. I know a fare amount so ask away or visit bodybuilding.com and everyone on there will shoot things at you to digest so to speak. keep in mind everyones body are so different that you just can't say do this and it will work. Its really something you have to experiment with and find out yourself. Your on the right track with weight loss though a lot of ppl don't realize everyone has a six pack you just have to undercover it from fat. A lot of ppl waste time and energy doing situp which amount to a beautiful six pack UNDER all the fat they still have.

[Foreigner]

Thanks for the reply, Sorry for being so vague. I have been staying away from sweets, paysta's, breads, cheeses, pizza etc. I have been sticking to steak,shrimp,fish and other low carb and low fat meals. I ment I do about 1 hour of cardio a day and 1 hour of weights working different muscle groups 4 days a week. What other things would you recommend I read alot of people are sticking to many small meals a day etc and protien shakes this is all new to me so I decided to get tips from others who have done it and such.

Thanks

[osopardo]

I won't comment on your exercise routine 'cause it doesn't look like you need any help there.

Regarding nutrition, when I'm in serious training mode I drink at least a gallon of water per day (minimum) and eat about 6 meals a day, as follows;

6:30 Breakfast (boiled egg whites, oatmeal with protein powder)
9:30 Morning (protein bar or protein shake)
12:00 Lunch (Green salad with canned tuna - no dressing)
3:00 Afternoon (protein bar or protein shake w/ fat-free milk and ice)
6:00 Dinner (grilled fish or boneless/skinless chicken breast, boiled brown rice)
9:00 Night meal (fat-free yogurt w/ protein powder or protein shake)

To the above I add an assortment of supplements like multi-vitamins, creatine, androstene, xenadrine, cod liver oil and a lot of whey protein powder. And that's it! No breads, no glutens, no carbs, no fats, nothing!

The meals are small; enough to stave off hunger and light enough so you can run away from a rabid dog right afterwards.

I can't keep that regimen going for more than three weeks or so and after that time I usually take a couple of days off, like on a weekend, and during that time I don't work out and I eat like a pig (pizza and ice cream and cheesecake and pork and beef and pastries and breads, etc.).

Genetics do play a big part in all this; I have a nephew who can eat like a pig and is still ripped (well-defined, cut-up musculature, six-pack, etc.).

[nwtogame]

Sounds like a great plan EXCEPTY the brown rice for dinner but that all depends on a lot of things and your goals as well. If your working out in the evening well then you need some carbs late like that but since I know MYSELF i usually work out earlier I would eat the carbs for lunch (and brown rice is a great choice) then that would be it for carbs till the next morning. This is all goal oriented also. You don't want to digest too many carbs late at night if your going to no be active though.

[Foreigner]

How exactly do you make the these protien shakes I want to go all natrual no supplimnets and stuff like that etc.

Also how are red meats like steak and seafood lobster, shrimp etc.. I really enjoy steak and since it has 0 carbs and is very low fat for a meat.

What about some websites about more of this info so I can maybe modify the foods a little.

[unstoppable]

just a random question. to those who have dieted is there a cost difference in dieting. obviously theres a diff in buying a large pizza compared to a lb(kg) of shrip or (fresh) fish. etc.

but do people find there budget more streached or compunded as a result of a diet. main ask to those living alone i.e. pay for own food.

i live with family, so im not sure. but im sure it would be costly. but yet again theres that argument that you should do what is best for your body and also becuase ure only paying for yourself that must make a diff then for a family i presume

[nwtogame]

Yeah thats one thing that has really took its tole on my before about dieting. I'm 25 and been on my own for a while now (almost 10 yrs) and have put myself on strict diets a few times. Heres the deal the simplest way I can put it. With the less money you have the more your going to have to concentrate on not going astray. I mean this too. Cause for ppl that don't have the extra money laying around to spend on buying different meals like ostrige, venison, and crap like that well we eat TUNA, lol. A LOT OF TUNA. Do you see what I mean by self control. Like where someone with no budget can try different things and still be within his diet rule someone with a budget has limited choices. This is all not to mention that plain out eating is more expensive ie: low fat meats (hamburger). Just my opinion you will find things yourself to spice things up a lil, afterall your NOT going to eat TUNA all day and everyday AND if your like me and have to incorporate some date in there without wasting your time and the expense of her not caring anyways you have to stay on your diet while preparing a lil meal for (the future ex) lol. It can be done though like I said it takes some creativity and maybe a lil more selfcontrol to stay on your diet than someoen without a budget. Make NO DOUBT though that dieting is more costly that eating crap like a $.50 bago of chips and $1 double cheeseburger from McDs but well worth the sacrafices ITS SALL WHAT YOU WANT AND WILL MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY.

[osopardo]

...is there a cost difference in dieting.

Yes, the food is more expensive. And supplements add to that cost.

A burger from a fast food franchise is about $3.00 US.
The same amount of lean, high-quality beef or fish can be three or four times more than that.
A chocolate milkshake from the same fast food franchise is definitely cheaper than a protein shake.

But you know what's really expensive?
High blood pressure.
High blood cholesterol levels.
Arterial plaque.
Obesity.
Open heart surgery.
Diabetes.

Pay the grocer and the gym or pay the doctor and the surgeon.

[osopardo]

How exactly do you make the these protien shakes I want to go all natrual no supplimnets and stuff like that etc.

Also how are red meats like steak and seafood lobster, shrimp etc.. I really enjoy steak and since it has 0 carbs and is very low fat for a meat.

What about some websites about more of this info so I can maybe modify the foods a little.

Protein shake:
Put in an electric blender 1 scoop of whey protein powder (your preferred flavor), 1/4 cup of fat free skim milk and 2 cups of ice. Blend until ice is gone and the mixture thickens.

I'm not sure what you mean by "all natural" but the only way I know of consuming larger amounts of high-quality protein with no carbs and no fat is to use natural supplements like protein shakes and protein bars. You do have to be careful and read labels and compare 'cause there's a lot of garbage out there pretending to be good for you when it's really not. And be prepared to pay more for the good stuff (my old man used to have a saying, "Cheap stuff is costly.").
Red meat is supposedly the best source of protein but it comes with other things you can't afford to ingest in large quantities, like bad cholesterols and fats. Keep in mind, we're talking about large-quantity consumption. Certain types of seafood are good and others are not good and you have to educate yourself to avoid mistakes.